Survivor Benefits Protect Spouse When Partner Dies

SOCIAL SECURITY - John Raffa

Many married couples may not realize the protection their Social Security coverage provides the surviving partner upon their death.

Social Security pays retirement benefits to a worker and his or her family, disability benefits if he or she cannot work, and survivors benefits to family members when the worker dies.

Actually, a widow or widower may become eligible for a survivors benefit as early as age 60, two years earlier than retirement benefits are paid. At age 62 or later, you can apply for retirement benefits and receive a benefit on your own record, plus the difference between your retirement benefit and widow or widower's benefit. If the widow's benefit is higher, you cannot receive both.

Widow's benefits range from 71.5 percent of the deceased spouse's benefit (if begun at age 60) to 100 percent (if begun at 65).

Widows or widowers who care for a child of the deceased worker under age 16 or a disabled child who was disabled before age 22 may collect benefits at any age. Benefits continue until the child is 16, or indefinitely if a child remains disabled. For many families, these benefits cushion the impact of the sudden loss of a breadwinner. The average monthly benefit is $1,478.

Widows or widowers who become disabled at age 50 and before age 60 may qualify for disability benefits on the deceased spouse's work record. Disabled widow's benefits would automatically become survivors benefits at age 65. If the disability ceased before age 65, the widow or widower must contact Social Security and file an application for survivors benefits on his or her own record until age 62 or later.

Even if the widow or widower is divorced from the worker, benefits would be possible if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. This means he or she will be able to qualify for benefits to the same extent as if he or she were still married. Those benefits would not affect the benefits of the worker's current family.

It's important to know your rights as a widow under the Social Security program. When you need help, Social Security benefits are there for you and your family.

John Raffa is a public affairs and community specialist for the Social Security Administration in South Florida. Write to him at the administration's Palm Beach County office, P.O. Box 24678, West Palm Beach, FL 33416.